Food and beverage companies - from manufacturers and processors to restaurants and distilleries - operate under strict food safety requirements where changes to ingredients, processes, or equipment can directly impact product safety and consumer health. Management of Change (MOC) software ensures every operational change is evaluated for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Food Safety Regulatory Compliance
FDA and FSMA
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) shifted the focus from responding to foodborne illness to preventing it. MOC software supports FSMA compliance by ensuring that changes to processes, ingredients, and facilities are evaluated through the preventive controls framework before implementation, with complete documentation for FDA inspections.
HACCP and HARPC
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) require that changes affecting critical control points or preventive controls trigger a formal plan review. MOC software automatically flags these impacts and ensures plans are updated before changes take effect.
Third-Party Certifications
Many food companies maintain SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, or other Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certifications. These standards require formal change management procedures. MOC software provides the structured process and audit trail needed for certification audits.
Food Industry Changes Tracked
Recipes, Ingredients, and Suppliers
Track recipe modifications, ingredient substitutions, and supplier changes. MOC software ensures that every formulation change is evaluated for allergen implications, nutritional labeling accuracy, and food safety risks. When suppliers change, the software flags the need for new supplier qualification reviews and incoming material specifications.
Processing and Equipment
Manage changes to processing parameters, cooking temperatures, holding times, cooling procedures, and equipment configurations. Ensure that modifications to food contact equipment are evaluated for sanitary design, material compatibility, and cleaning validation.
Allergen Management
When ingredient, supplier, or processing changes occur, MOC software flags potential allergen implications. This ensures that product labels are updated, cross-contamination risks are reassessed, sanitation protocols are adjusted, and shared-line allergen controls are verified.
Facility, Sanitation, and Personnel
Track facility layout changes, sanitation procedure updates, waste management modifications, pest control program changes, and personnel training requirements. Ensure facility modifications are reviewed for food safety zoning, traffic flow, and contamination prevention.
Worker Safety
OSHA and EHS Compliance
Food and beverage facilities involve occupational hazards including ammonia refrigeration systems, confined spaces, lockout/tagout requirements, chemical handling, and ergonomic risks. MOC software ensures that operational changes are evaluated for worker safety in addition to food safety, maintaining OSHA compliance.
Ecesis EHS Software Solutions
MOC Software
Streamline change reviews and approvals
Compliance Obligations
Track regulatory requirements and deadlines
Audits & Inspections
Schedule and conduct compliance audits
Incident Management
Report, investigate, and track incidents
Training Management
Track employee training and competency
Document Management
Centralized document storage and control
